Paulinho (footballer, born January 1989)

Paulinho (born January 18, 1989) is a Brazilian professional footballer who primarily plays as a defensive midfielder.

He is known for his strong tackling ability, positional awareness, and capacity to disrupt opposition attacks. He has often been deployed as a holding midfielder, shielding the defense and winning back possession. While primarily a defensive player, Paulinho also contributes to attacking plays with his passing range and occasional forward runs.

Paulinho has played for several clubs throughout his career, including Vasco da Gama in Brazil, Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League, and FC Barcelona in La Liga. He has also represented the Brazil national team on numerous occasions, participating in major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the Copa América.

His transfer from Guangzhou Evergrande to FC Barcelona in 2017 was particularly notable, as he quickly became an important player for the Catalan club, contributing to their La Liga title win in the 2017-18 season. He later returned to Guangzhou Evergrande.